Michael Thate
MIT Media Lab
Dr. Michael Thate is the McDonald’s Senior Distinguished Research Scholar at MIT Media Lab---working on systems that read, model, and direct human interior states. He arrives at these challenges through law (M.S.L. Northwestern), systems engineering (Ph.D. on leave, GWU), ethics and religious studies (Ph.D., Durham University), G.I.S. (cert., University of Alaska Fairbanks), and computer engineering (NYU Tandon Bridge Program). His doctoral work at GWU was an NSF-funded Co-Design of Trustworthy A.I. Systems program, focused on A.I. metrology and comparative governance of high-risk industries. His current research is on Public Nuisance and agentic technologies. Before MIT, Michael was at Princeton for twelve years.
J. Niels Rosenquist, M.D., Ph.D., is a psychiatrist and researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. After completing his MD/PhD training at the University of Pennsylvania and its Wharton school, he completed a residency at MGH and McLean Hospital. His research has focused on topics such as social networks and digital media shape mood and behavior, including work that measures public mood through social media. He has written on the need to regulate addictive social media, including a recent law review paper with Fiona Scott Morton arguing that social media content should be regulated by the FTC. He has also co-founded Orpheuspledge.org, a nonprofit that helps people cut back on technology and social media. He keeps a clinical practice at MGH that focuses primarily on medical resident mental health.
Harvard Medical School and Mass General Hospital
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Schools Guidance
Adrienne Principe
Founder, Turning Life On, Mother of 4 teens
A mom of four teenagers, Adrienne Principe is the founder and president of Turning Life On, a Massachusetts nonprofit helping families, schools, and communities build healthier, more intentional relationships with technology. What began in 2017 as the Concord Promise now supports parent-led communities across the Commonwealth. Nationally, Adrienne is a founding member of the Screens in Schools Working Group and works with Fairplay, the Distraction Free Schools Policy Project, and the Four Norms Coalition. In Massachusetts, she partners with the Attorney General’s Office, the Governor’s Office, and state legislators to advance phone-free schools and stronger protections for kids online.
David Cook
Gordon College
David Cook, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Psychology and Program Director of the new Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Gordon College. Before joining Gordon, Dr. Cook spent 15 years providing clinical care in acute and post-acute hospital settings and private practice, and consulted for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. His research examines religiosity and mental health, the role of faith communities in meeting community mental health needs, and multicultural competencies in clinical practice. He serves on a Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association committee and is Senior Pastor of North Point Presbyterian Church.
Moderator, Finish in'26 lead
Geoff Gordon created and leads "Finish in '26" and co-sponsored H.549, a Massachusetts bill to regulate mobile devices in schools. For over 10 years he has served as an Associate Faculty member with The Risk and Insurance Education Alliance, teaching Strategic Planning, Talent Development and Ethics nationwide. He co-founded and served eight years as treasurer of A Simple Gesture–Norwell, a food-collection program for neighbors in need, and volunteers regularly at L-Street Mission, serving people in pain in Brockton. Geoff mentors with The Valedictorian Project, and served on the board of Norwell Education Foundation for several years. He sits on the board of the North and South Rivers Watershed Association in Norwell.
Geoff holds a BA in History and German from Bowdoin College and while at Deerfield Academy led a tutoring program for local school children. Developing human capital through education has always been a passion.
Panelists
Our panel brings together experts from education, mental health, and technology.
Because legislators may not negotiate publicly, we have set our Zoom rules so anonymous questions can be posed from anyone attending the forum. We hope this may facilitate reconciliation.
This on-line forum is for anyone who would like to understand some of the reasons for getting a reconciled bill together, and help lawmakers craft a version of these popular bills to advance into law.